Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 505

Jin’s expression turned peculiar, as if he had something on the tip of his tongue but couldn’t quite voice it. Beric, meanwhile, rested his chin on his hand, intently watching Jin, a suppressed snicker hinting at his amusement.

Ian, however, remained calm and composed. When Jin hesitated to answer, Ian moved the sandwich plate aside, sensing the need for a more serious discussion.

Flustered, Jin raised his hand.

“Wait a moment, Sir Ian. Why are you asking such a question out of the blue?”

“I apologize if I’ve offended you.”

But what could Ian do? The future of Bariel hinged on the relationships Jin would form, so he couldn’t help but be concerned. If only he could recall who the Empress was.

“No, no, it’s not that.”

“Would you like to sit for a moment?”

“Yes, Your Highness. Sit here. Hehehe.”

“Beric, your laughter is rather unsightly.”

“Was it? I just find it amusing.”

Beric winked repeatedly at Ian before clamping his mouth shut. However, his lips continued to twitch, as if he had more to say than the two about to engage in a serious conversation.

Ian poured tea for Jin and carefully continued, “It’s just that, Your Highness, you are now an adult, aren’t you? As the sole heir to the Imperial Family, it falls to you to continue the Imperial line. It’s only natural to seek a partner.”

Jin frowned and took a sip of his tea. He was well aware of the gravity of the situation. Bringing a new member into the Imperial Family was a significant matter and a responsibility he couldn’t ignore. However, since it was a matter that intertwined public and private concerns, he couldn’t help but ponder deeply.

Jin shook his head and said, “There is a young lady I have in mind.”

“Ooh! Who is it? Is she pretty?”

“First, the second daughter of Duke Holin.”

“First?”

Did that mean there was more than one?

Jin ignored Beric’s interjection and explained, “Duke Holin has greatly benefited from the Burgos civil war.”

“His family is well-known for weapon manufacturing.”

“With the funds he acquired, he aggressively bought up land in the central area, and now about half of the outskirts adjacent to the Imperial Palace are owned by the Holin family. Among the central nobles, they are by far the most powerful. I heard that his second daughter is the same age as me.”

“She is suitable in many ways, but…”

Since she wasn’t perfect, Jin couldn’t make a decision.

At Ian’s subtle inquiry, Jin touched his temple.

“There are seven siblings, and three of them have been brought to trial. She lacks the dignity befitting a member of the Imperial Family, and above all, even if a marriage were to take place, her family’s desire to control the weapons business is quite evident.”

“Hmm. That’s troublesome.”

“No, is she pretty?”

“And next is the youngest daughter of Count Davion. She comes from a prestigious family that has produced many high-ranking officials in the Imperial Palace, has a good reputation among the people, and their influence among the nobles cannot be ignored. There don’t seem to be any particular disadvantages, but there are no special benefits either if a marriage were to take place.”

The talents of the Davion family were already loyal to Jin.

Jin leaned his head against the back of the sofa, expressing his worry.

“I’ve been looking in Luswena, Hawan, and even Burgos, but there’s no one who particularly catches my eye. A concubine would be fine, but the Empress’s position is only one.”

“Is that so? But, Your Highness.”

Ian, who had been nodding and listening, asked again, “Apart from the family’s power and conditions, is there no one who has captured your heart?”

“…Is that important?”

Jin looked quite surprised. His position was far from that of an ordinary person seeking a partner. Jin knew very well that he couldn’t be with someone simply because he loved them.

Ian, too, was expected to know this well.

“If you were to marry a child of a prestigious family or a royal from another country, there would certainly be many advantages from the marriage. But the history you will write is very long. So, wouldn’t it be even better if you also matched with your partner in heart? And besides blood ties, everything else can change. It would be better to look at future value rather than immediate gains. If you happen to have someone in mind, Your Highness.”

Jin’s Bariel would never falter in the future. Ian would ensure that. So, if he could find happiness in his life, Ian wanted to help him with that.

“That’s a bit surprising. I never thought you would say such a thing, Sir Ian.”

“It means I respect Your Highness’s choice.”

“Ah, so you’re saying, ‘Choose well on your own’?”

At Jin’s joke, Ian smiled faintly. Wasn’t he the one who was born based on gains and losses? Even if he was burdened with a great cause, it was right to find happiness in that gap if he could. That was right for Jin, for the partner he would meet, and for the children of the future.

“I understand. But I don’t have anyone in my heart yet. If I do, I’ll tell you first, Sir Ian.”

“Yes, Your Highness. If you do, I will do my best to help with all my heart.”

“It sounds like you’ll cut them out if they’re not suitable.”

Jin slowly swirled his half-empty teacup and laughed.

“Anyway, there are no marriage plans for now. The competition among those who want it hasn’t started yet.”

Since it was an opportunity to become a member of the Imperial Family, many nobles would jump at the chance. Jin intended to extract as much benefit as possible for the Imperial Family in the process, and since he had just passed his coming-of-age ceremony, he thought that the beginning had just begun.

“Sir Ian, if you want, you can meet the daughters of the Holin and Davion families directly. You never know. Maybe my partner is among those two. The heart, after all, is something that you never know when or how it will appear.”

“That is also a wise saying.”

Jin suddenly remembered the old days. The day Serio proposed to Ian in the greenhouse. At that time, this situation felt like something in the distant future, but now he was naturally talking about marriage. And he was doing it before Sir Ian.

Jin got up from his seat and poured himself some wine.

“Come to think of it, Sir Ian, you wouldn’t know. Lady Alenara has left the central area, marrying a lower-ranking noble from the provinces. There were suspicions that she was in league with King Luswena, but after Eriphony died and you left, the central area was in chaos. In fact, they couldn’t afford to pay attention to the Serio family. Sir Serio is still in his mansion, though.”

In fact, it was no exaggeration to say that they were facing ruin. Jin clinked the ice into his glass.

“But, Sir Ian, I also have something to ask you. Do you have someone in your heart? Or have you ever had a relationship?”

Swoosh.

Jin turned back. Then he met eyes with Beric, who was sniffing. Huh? Normally, he should have met eyes with Ian?

At that moment. Slowly, Beric’s eyes moved to the right and pointed to the empty sofa.

“Ian fainted.”

“Huh?”

Ian, who had been sitting upright, had slid down, leaning against the sofa.

“…?”

It didn’t make sense. How could someone who had been talking just fine suddenly collapse?

As Jin walked closer, he saw Ian, surprisingly, fast asleep. His head was tilted to the side, and his eyes were neatly closed.

“Acorella! Ian has fainted!”

Thud!

At Beric’s call, the door burst open, and the mages rushed in. They looked around the sofa, whispering with sparkling eyes, as if they had been waiting for this.

“Sir Ian is finally sleeping.”

“Sob. It’s been so long since I’ve seen this.”

“Didn’t he sleep even in the north?”

“I don’t know. We used separate rooms. But when I knocked on the door, he was always dressed neatly and sitting at his desk. I don’t think he slept much.”

“Ooh, his lips are slightly parted.”

“Shh. Be quiet. He might wake up. Captain Acorella, how long does this effect last?”

“Usually, it’s around two days, but who knows. Seeing Sir Ian eat those sandwiches, it was no joke. Let’s move him to the bed and watch him.”

Beric lowered himself to eye level with Ian and sniffed.

“Ah, but the timing is a bit off.”

“What is?”

“This Ian, the smell is suspicious. Isn’t he pretending to sleep because he’s having trouble answering? Huh? Ian? Are you awake?”

Then, he poked Ian’s nostril with his finger!

The mages gasped and grabbed Beric by the collar. As if they were going to die together, they hung onto his arms and neck, screaming silently. How dare he poke his finger there? He was going to die!

“Ugh, I get it. I get it!”

“You crazy bastard, that’s disgusting. Hey, wipe Sir Ian’s nose.”

“Huh? Not my hand?”

“Get lost. You germ ball.”

“But Beric, what answer?”

As a mage moved a blanket and asked, Beric looked at Jin. He was trying to get permission to speak. When Jin finished his wine and nodded, Beric stretched and said, “The Prince asked if Ian had ever been in a relationship. But he just closed his eyes once and fell asleep.”

Then, thud. The blanket fell from the mage’s hand. Not only that, but the hands that were picking up the documents scattered on the floor, the footsteps that were about to go outside, and even their breathing seemed to stop. All of them stopped moving. The only sound was the crackling of the bonfire. Everyone’s eyes widened, and they stammered.

“S-Sir Ian, in a relationship?”

“What is this feeling? It’s somehow heartwarming and bittersweet, I want to cheer him on but also interfere.”

“I can’t imagine it. Sir Ian, our Sir Ian…”

“If Sir Ian has a relationship, can we leave work early? Early dismissal.”

“I can’t accept it. Oppose, oppose. He won’t be satisfied with just anyone.”

“Who are you to accept or not accept?”

Thwack!

Acorella smacked the mages on their foreheads and whispered. Although he had fallen asleep due to the side effects, he might wake up if it was too noisy around him.

“Everyone shut up and distribute the documents Sir Ian was looking at. You’re always just spouting unproductive words. Your Highness, I and Hale will take turns submitting the reports.”

“Okay. I understand.”

Sob. The mages swallowed their stinging pain and cleaned up the surroundings, and Beric picked up Ian and went into the inner room.

As Jin left the room, Siao Shi, who had been waiting outside, greeted him, handing him his coat.

“Shall we go to the Crown Prince’s Palace?”

“Yes. It would be good to go and finish the work.”

Thud, thud!

At that moment, a servant came running up the magic tower stairs. He approached with hurried steps and whispered something to Siao Shi. His expression immediately soured.

“What is it?”

“…Damon has started again, they say.”

“That man never gets tired.”

Jin clicked his tongue and was about to ignore it, but then he changed his mind and ordered.

“No. Let’s go there instead of the residence.”

“Are you saying you’re going to Damon?”

“Yes. We’ll be sending a delegation to Burgos soon, and it would be good for me to hear directly if he has any advice as a king.”

Not knowing that Ian and Rutherford had returned, Damon’s world was still the same as it had been ten years ago.

As Jin got into the carriage, Siao Shi nodded, and the horse’s head was turned towards the magic tower.

Neigh!

Thud, thud!

* * *

Meanwhile, in the Grand Banquet Hall.

As time passed, more than half of the nobles had left. Some were drunk, some were exhausted, and some had made good connections. Most of those who remained were either drunk or dozing on the sofas.

But even amidst all that, there were two women sitting upright, looking straight ahead.

“Lady Kyla Holin, would you like some more tea?”

“Lady Chloe Davion, if you are cold, please take this.”

Both of them refused the young noblemen’s offers with a smile.

And then, their eyes met. The two women glanced at each other and then looked straight ahead again, hoping that when Jin entered, they would be the first to make eye contact with him.